Turkey avoided attending a Committee of Ministers meeting in Strasbourg, on Wednesday morning, intended to assess the execution of European Court judgments in relation to Greek Cypriot properties in the Turkish-occupied part of the island.

Ankara warned last June that it would not cooperate with the Committee of Ministers in cases relating to aspects of the Cyprus problem.

A well-informed source told CNA that no representative of the Turkish delegation to the Council of Europe attended Wednesday’s meeting. Delegates discussed the issue of property rights of displaced Greek Cypriots in the “Cyprus v. Turkey” interstate application, as well as the “Xenides-Arestis” group of cases concerning Turkish-occupied properties. Another case under review is that of Titina Loizidou, regarding her right to access the property she owns in the Turkish-occupied part of the island.

The same source said, moreover that Turkey’s absence was seen negatively by representatives of other member states attending the meeting.

Final decisions on the matters under discussion are expected on Thursday.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. The European Court of Human Rights sentenced Turkey in numerous cases, brought forward by Greek Cypriots, concerning the violation of their fundamental human rights, following the 1974 invasion.